Being from New York, sleep away camp was basically a given. You went, your friends went, you siblings, your parents, literally everyone you knew went. The eight years that I spent at Camp Chipinaw were the best experiences of my childhood. I made my best friend there and will always be forever grateful. That time I spent there also prepared me for college, but back then I didn't know that. Here's how:

1. Living away from home

If you have never lived away from home for more than an overnight sleepover, college was definitely different. For eight summers in a row, I spent seven weeks away from my family and friends and everything i was used to and got accustomed to "living on my own" and having to take care of myself.

2. Living with other people

Most of the time if you went to sleep away camp, you lived with at least 7 or more girls and had probably 2-3 counselors. Thats a lot of people in one space and it can get cramped and crowded and annoying at times. Some people were messy, some were clean, some woke up early, some went to bed late, etc. You had to learn to live with all kinds of people, which really prepared you to live with any kind of person in college.

3. Getting into a routine

Especially at my camp, everyday we had a schedule which kept us all in the habit of brushing our teeth at the same time every morning and showering before dinner and making sure we ate every meal. At college, you have a new routine each semester because your class schedules are always different, but it helps if you already have a routine foundation when you get to college.

4. How to live with limited space

A bunk at camp isn't all that big, plus you have to share the space with a lot of other people. This means storage is at a minimum. You have to learn how to maximize the area you have with storage bins and clever closet techniques. College is the same thing; you share a space with someone, dorms aren't usually that big, and your space is limited. You have to know how to use every inch you have, and camp definitely prepared me for that.

5. How to pack

If you thought packing for camp was a lot, imagine that but 10 times harder. But, if you ever had to pack for camp, it makes it a lot easier to pack for college. For starters, you probably already have a great trunk and duffle bag to pack in. you know what to pack where and how and how to keep it organized. It makes it so much easier when you are moving in.

6. Find what an interest

Camp gives you the opportunity to explore so many different activities in all different areas from art to sports to theater and more. It is a great opportunity to find out what really interests you and what you are most passionate about. That is what college is for, but its nice to have experience in many different fields that may help guide you along the way in college.